ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Getting from here to there is no easy feat in Western North Carolina.
Interstate 40 and I-26 remain closed at the Tennessee/North Carolina border.
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, more than 2,000 NCDOT employees and contract crews from across the state are working in WNC to reopen roads, clear debris and repair damaged infrastructure. They are getting help from the skies from the department’s photogrammetry unit and North Carolina Division of Aviation drones.
NCDOT staff have identified more than 5,400 damaged sites with over 450 damaged bridges, a statement from the NCDOT said. Crews have already reopened more than 460 roads and will update DriveNC.gov with the latest closure and detour information.
“Travel remains dangerous, with hundreds of roads closed. Many of these roads are primary routes connecting the region. As connectivity and reporting measures improve, these numbers may increase,” a statement from Gov. Roy Cooper’s office said.
NCDOT is asking people to avoid unnecessary travel to or in WNC. NCDOT has posted an interstate detour map for travelers to avoid the area. Click here for routes for trucks longer than 30 feet.
Division of Aviation assists with Helene recovery
NCDOT’s Aviation division is using drone technology and the agency’s photogrammetry unit are using aircraft to help inspect damaged roads, bridges and culverts.
Drone pilots have completed about 200 UAS missions to inspect infrastructure and provide high-quality imagery for analysis by engineers, the NCDOT said. The drone imagery is being used to help engineers make informed decisions on repairs needed to damaged infrastructure across the region.